Apprentice hunter program offered Register for online hunter ed classes FWP seeks comments on proposed walleye kill regs

It’s never too early to plan ahead for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Apprentice Hunter Program.

The agency encourages early mail-in certification for eligible apprentice hunters in order to avoid crowds and frustration prior to season openers and the youth hunt. COVID-19 safety protocols are in place at FWP offices and lobby occupancy is very limited, therefore wait times outside may be long.

The “Apprentice Hunter” law allows anyone 10 years of age or older to hunt two license years without completing hunter education. An apprentice hunter may not obtain a big horn sheep, black bear, mountain lion, or wolf license.

Apprentice hunters, ages 10-15, may hunt in the two-day youth pheasant and duck hunt (Sept. 26 and 27) and two-day deer hunt (Oct. 15 and 16) and throughout the general season.

FWP recommends that people interested in this program read the Apprentice Hunter Program packet before seeking certification through your regional office.

The packet outlines guidelines for both the apprentice and the required mentor, including what apprentices can and cannot do, who can act as a mentor, and how the certification process works. The application packet is available on the FWP website.

In-state personal checks for the $5 fee, along with the application may be accepted from Montana residents and can be mailed to your regional FWP office or FWP Licensing in Helena.

For nonresidents please send a money order or cashier’s check along with the application. The phone numbers and mailing addresses of FWP offices are below for your convenience:

Regional Headquarters

Region 1 (Kalispell) 406-752-5501, 490 N. Meridian Rd, Kalispell, MT 59901

Region 2 (Missoula) 406-542-5500, 3201 Spurgin Rd, Missoula MT 59804

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering online hunter and bowhunter education courses this year in response to social distancing requirements and restrictions on group gatherings related to Covid-19.

To take the online hunter education courses, Montana students can get the free code by accessing our website at http://fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/ and select the course you want to take.

The online courses, which are developed and administered by the outdoor education company Kalkomey, include text, videos and interactive scenarios to engage students. Students will need to pass a final test to qualify for a certificate.

At this time, students aged 10 and 11 (under age 12 before Jan. 16, 2021) will not have an option for an online class. Those students can hunt as an apprentice this year. To learn how to sign up for the hunter apprentice program, go to: fwp.mt.gov/hunting/licenses/all/apprenticeHunter/default.html

If there are any questions, please call your local FWP office or 406-444-9947 or 406-431-0539.

FWP is accepting comment on proposed fishing regulations for 2021. The department has 20 proposed changes for 2021, with most changes involving minor corrections and clarifications to avoid confusion and inadvertent violations.

One larger-scale proposal is requiring mandatory catch, kill, and report of all walleye captured in the Western Fishing District.

The intent of this regulation is to prevent additional illegal introductions of walleye in western Montana and to potentially help the department detect illegal introductions and take action sooner.

Noxon Reservoir and Cabinet Gorge Reservoir, where established walleye populations are already known to exist, would be exempt from this regulation.

Another proposal would place a bag limit on crayfish harvested from McGregor Lake in NW Montana.

McGregor Lake has a native crayfish population and there is growing concern that harvest for consumption as well as predation from illegally introduced smallmouth bass could have population scale impacts to the crayfish population.

To see all the proposed changes, please visit the FWP website at http://fwp.mt.gov/fish/publicComments/regsProposals.htm.

The department will be taking comment on the proposed changes until Sept. 17. Comments can be submitted through the FWP website, emailed to fwpfsh@mt.gov, or sent via U.S. Mail to Fishing Regulations, P.O. Box 200701, Helena MT, 59620.